Yep, the next best step 6 runner up will be promoted. The standardised rules state that all the step 6 runners up will be promoted, before any clubs are reprieved & those reprieves will be on a PPG basis across step 5.

NB Step 5 and below is down to the discretion of the Leagues Committee.

Thamesmead are indeed Step 4 and should the inevitable happen then they'll effectively be placed 20th, with 19th then being the only other relegation space. That side in 19th will be eligible for a reprieve should there be one and should they top the PPG list.

I think.

The question was ‘will this create a reprieve at step 5’? The simple answer is no. The extra space created by Thamesmead folding, will be handed to the next best step 6 runner up on a PPG basis. The only question that none of us know, is what will the FALC do with the relegations for the NL1 & HL Prem! The answer I was given by the FA, is it’s at the LC discretion. There’s nothing in the rules that say anything about clubs folding any time in the season are nominally placed in the relegation zones. The standardised rules state that the bottom 2 clubs will be relegated from step 5 & any extra places will be filled by the next best step 6 runners up.

No that wasn't the question. The original question I have highlighted.

And there is wording in the rules regarding this situation: "Prior to the end of a Playing Season 5.5.3 (a) In cases where the vacancy is created prior to the end of the Playing Season, the vacancy will be filled by the best ranked Club in a relegation position at the end of the Regular Season, eligible of being reprieved in that same division." So that is exactly as I described. Thamesmead will invisibly be placed 20th, thus boosting everyone up meaning only the side in 19th (bottom) will go down.

I'm going to have to admit to being a little bit confused about this now then, as I thought that the rules changed last season so that no reprieves would occur from now on. I was under the impression that this rule would be a permanent change, but was it only in place last season because of the expansion at Steps 3 and 4?

Yep, the next best step 6 runner up will be promoted. The standardised rules state that all the step 6 runners up will be promoted, before any clubs are reprieved & those reprieves will be on a PPG basis across step 5.

NB Step 5 and below is down to the discretion of the Leagues Committee.

Thamesmead are indeed Step 4 and should the inevitable happen then they'll effectively be placed 20th, with 19th then being the only other relegation space. That side in 19th will be eligible for a reprieve should there be one and should they top the PPG list.

I think.

The question was ‘will this create a reprieve at step 5’? The simple answer is no. The extra space created by Thamesmead folding, will be handed to the next best step 6 runner up on a PPG basis. The only question that none of us know, is what will the FALC do with the relegations for the NL1 & HL Prem! The answer I was given by the FA, is it’s at the LC discretion. There’s nothing in the rules that say anything about clubs folding any time in the season are nominally placed in the relegation zones. The standardised rules state that the bottom 2 clubs will be relegated from step 5 & any extra places will be filled by the next best step 6 runners up.

No that wasn't the question. The original question I have highlighted.

And there is wording in the rules regarding this situation: "Prior to the end of a Playing Season 5.5.3 (a) In cases where the vacancy is created prior to the end of the Playing Season, the vacancy will be filled by the best ranked Club in a relegation position at the end of the Regular Season, eligible of being reprieved in that same division." So that is exactly as I described. Thamesmead will invisibly be placed 20th, thus boosting everyone up meaning only the side in 19th (bottom) will go down.

I don’t dispute what will happen at step 4. My point was how will this effect step 5 & then step 6. Because Thamesmead folding will create a space. There won’t be a knock on reprieve at step 5.

Down my neck of the woods the Middlesex League currently has a top 3 of St. Panteleimon, Pitshanger Dynamo and PFC Victoria, all groundsharing at Step 5 and above clubs. In the Surrey Elite Westside are top who share at AFC Croydon Athletic at Step 5. So I'm guessing that all of these have promotion to Step 6 as an aim for the not too distant future.

PFC Vics are applying & they expect the other two to apply

St Panteleimon will be applying

Why? Why are this team applying? Why are PFC Victoria applyimg? Do eithetr team have any form of support? Any history? (both clubs have just appeared in the Middlesex County Legaue in the last 3 years).

They are both groundsharing - do either have any ounce of a hope of ever laying down their own foundations and building their own ground? do either of them actually want to do this? Or are they only interested in getting their current squad of players into the highestb division possible, playing in another CLUB's ground. These sorts of clubs are fine for the somewhat....unstable...Middlesex County League and its track record of come and go, sketchy teams, but personally I think a line needs to be drawn for these teams (not clubs) joining the more presigious Step 6.

It makes me so sad that clubs with their own ground, longevity, stablility, community clubs get demoted to Step 6 (Stafford, Oakham, Bolehall etc, even the Hellenic lcubs wihtout lights) whilst allowing nonsense clubs like the above two up with absolutely none of what the teams they are replacing have! Just a squad of players inhabiting a higher club's ground.

Down my neck of the woods the Middlesex League currently has a top 3 of St. Panteleimon, Pitshanger Dynamo and PFC Victoria, all groundsharing at Step 5 and above clubs. In the Surrey Elite Westside are top who share at AFC Croydon Athletic at Step 5. So I'm guessing that all of these have promotion to Step 6 as an aim for the not too distant future.

PFC Vics are applying & they expect the other two to apply

St Panteleimon will be applying

Why? Why are this team applying? Why are PFC Victoria applyimg? Do eithetr team have any form of support? Any history? (both clubs have just appeared in the Middlesex County Legaue in the last 3 years).

They are both groundsharing - do either have any ounce of a hope of ever laying down their own foundations and building their own ground? do either of them actually want to do this? Or are they only interested in getting their current squad of players into the highestb division possible, playing in another CLUB's ground. These sorts of clubs are fine for the somewhat....unstable...Middlesex County League and its track record of come and go, sketchy teams, but personally I think a line needs to be drawn for these teams (not clubs) joining the more presigious Step 6.

It makes me so sad that clubs with their own ground, longevity, stablility, community clubs get demoted to Step 6 (Stafford, Oakham, Bolehall etc, even the Hellenic lcubs wihtout lights) whilst allowing nonsense clubs like the above two up with absolutely none of what the teams they are replacing have! Just a squad of players inhabiting a higher club's ground.

The clubs you mentioned weren’t replaced by sketchy clubs. They were from strong leagues, that have no problems filling their leagues. Unfortunately this doesn’t happen across the country & the FA doesn’t want a two tier structure. Which is the reason the Hellenic clubs were demoted.

Down my neck of the woods the Middlesex League currently has a top 3 of St. Panteleimon, Pitshanger Dynamo and PFC Victoria, all groundsharing at Step 5 and above clubs. In the Surrey Elite Westside are top who share at AFC Croydon Athletic at Step 5. So I'm guessing that all of these have promotion to Step 6 as an aim for the not too distant future.

PFC Vics are applying & they expect the other two to apply

St Panteleimon will be applying

Why? Why are this team applying? Why are PFC Victoria applyimg? Do eithetr team have any form of support? Any history? (both clubs have just appeared in the Middlesex County Legaue in the last 3 years).

They are both groundsharing - do either have any ounce of a hope of ever laying down their own foundations and building their own ground? do either of them actually want to do this? Or are they only interested in getting their current squad of players into the highestb division possible, playing in another CLUB's ground. These sorts of clubs are fine for the somewhat....unstable...Middlesex County League and its track record of come and go, sketchy teams, but personally I think a line needs to be drawn for these teams (not clubs) joining the more presigious Step 6.

It makes me so sad that clubs with their own ground, longevity, stablility, community clubs get demoted to Step 6 (Stafford, Oakham, Bolehall etc, even the Hellenic lcubs wihtout lights) whilst allowing nonsense clubs like the above two up with absolutely none of what the teams they are replacing have! Just a squad of players inhabiting a higher club's ground.

The clubs you mentioned weren’t replaced by sketchy clubs. They were from strong leagues, that have no problems filling their leagues. Unfortunately this doesn’t happen across the country & the FA doesn’t want a two tier structure. Which is the reason the Hellenic clubs were demoted.

Oh come on - Stafford Town were replaced by a skethcy club (Smithswood Firs), a team with little history, no support, and groundsharing miles away from their original base. This club then subsequently folded before the season started, leaving Stafford relegated in vain!

And yes the others were all relegated and replaced by "sketchy" clubs. Oakham and Bolehall may not have been directly replaced by the likes of Lopes Tavares and Fire United, but any number of lateral transfers and shifting around could have saved them from the chop! And so they were, in my opinion, replaced by riff raff sketchy clubs!

And now we have more of them applying. And they look even more sketchy than last years candidates!

Down my neck of the woods the Middlesex League currently has a top 3 of St. Panteleimon, Pitshanger Dynamo and PFC Victoria, all groundsharing at Step 5 and above clubs. In the Surrey Elite Westside are top who share at AFC Croydon Athletic at Step 5. So I'm guessing that all of these have promotion to Step 6 as an aim for the not too distant future.

PFC Vics are applying & they expect the other two to apply

St Panteleimon will be applying

Why? Why are this team applying? Why are PFC Victoria applyimg? Do eithetr team have any form of support? Any history? (both clubs have just appeared in the Middlesex County Legaue in the last 3 years).

They are both groundsharing - do either have any ounce of a hope of ever laying down their own foundations and building their own ground? do either of them actually want to do this? Or are they only interested in getting their current squad of players into the highestb division possible, playing in another CLUB's ground. These sorts of clubs are fine for the somewhat....unstable...Middlesex County League and its track record of come and go, sketchy teams, but personally I think a line needs to be drawn for these teams (not clubs) joining the more presigious Step 6.

It makes me so sad that clubs with their own ground, longevity, stablility, community clubs get demoted to Step 6 (Stafford, Oakham, Bolehall etc, even the Hellenic lcubs wihtout lights) whilst allowing nonsense clubs like the above two up with absolutely none of what the teams they are replacing have! Just a squad of players inhabiting a higher club's ground.

The clubs you mentioned weren’t replaced by sketchy clubs. They were from strong leagues, that have no problems filling their leagues. Unfortunately this doesn’t happen across the country & the FA doesn’t want a two tier structure. Which is the reason the Hellenic clubs were demoted.

Oh come on - Stafford Town were replaced by a skethcy club (Smithswood Firs), a team with little history, no support, and groundsharing miles away from their original base. This club then subsequently folded before the season started, leaving Stafford relegated in vain!

And yes the others were all relegated and replaced by "sketchy" clubs. Oakham and Bolehall may not have been directly replaced by the likes of Lopes Tavares and Fire United, but any number of lateral transfers and shifting around could have saved them from the chop! And so they were, in my opinion, replaced by riff raff sketchy clubs!

And now we have more of them applying. And they look even more sketchy than last years candidates!

I can’t see why the FA relegated any clubs last season, when there were spaces at step 7.

St Panteleimon represent the Greek community to the west of London. I saw a midweek game of theirs earlier this season and the attendance was 40 - not bad for Step 7 round my way.

PFC Victoria represent the Polish community to the west of London. Saw them last week at Lampton Park and the attendance was 60 and despite being the away side most of those who were there spoke Polish!

Whilst taking Sarunio's earlier point, I would suggest that these two sides see where they play as secondary to whom they represent, as long as it's within a certain geographical radius.Both seem to have good set ups.

Pitshanger Dynamo do share at Hanwell Town but moved less than a mile from their original home to do so.

St Panteleimon represent the Greek community to the west of London. I saw a midweek game of theirs earlier this season and the attendance was 40 - not bad for Step 7 round my way.

PFC Victoria represent the Polish community to the west of London. Saw them last week at Lampton Park and the attendance was 60 and despite being the away side most of those who were there spoke Polish!

Whilst taking Sarunio's earlier point, I would suggest that these two sides see where they play as secondary to whom they represent, as long as it's within a certain geographical radius.Both seem to have good set ups.

Pitshanger Dynamo do share at Hanwell Town but moved less than a mile from their original home to do so.

Westside in the Surrey Elite I know little about.

Westside are geared up for promotion, but won’t make a decision on whether they are applying until they’ve held their board meeting next month.

Looking at the clubs currently top of various Step 7 leagues anyone any idea on whether the following clubs, who on the face of it, look like they could hold their own at Step 6, although I have no idea of how their grounds shape up...

Looking at the clubs currently top of various Step 7 leagues anyone any idea on whether the following clubs, who on the face of it, look like they could hold their own at Step 6, although I have no idea of how their grounds shape up...

Looking at the clubs currently top of various Step 7 leagues anyone any idea on whether the following clubs, who on the face of it, look like they could hold their own at Step 6, although I have no idea of how their grounds shape up...

Pocklington Town are gradually developing their ground & have a long term aim of applying for promotion to step 6. This will not happen this season. Redcar Town aren’t mentioned on your list & their situation is similar to Pocklington Town.

Yep, the next best step 6 runner up will be promoted. The standardised rules state that all the step 6 runners up will be promoted, before any clubs are reprieved & those reprieves will be on a PPG basis across step 5.

Which at the moment (even though they have many games in hand) I believe would be Dunston UTS, a Northern League side

Yep, the next best step 6 runner up will be promoted. The standardised rules state that all the step 6 runners up will be promoted, before any clubs are reprieved & those reprieves will be on a PPG basis across step 5.

Which at the moment (even though they have many games in hand) I believe would be Dunston UTS, a Northern League side

Sorry, I misread the original question. Only the 14 step 5 league winners will be promoted. So I take it that only 1 team will be relegated from Thamesmead’s league(if Thamesmead fold). Because an extra space is created at step 5, then that space will be filled by the next best step 6 runner up on a PPG basis.

Down my neck of the woods the Middlesex League currently has a top 3 of St. Panteleimon, Pitshanger Dynamo and PFC Victoria, all groundsharing at Step 5 and above clubs. In the Surrey Elite Westside are top who share at AFC Croydon Athletic at Step 5. So I'm guessing that all of these have promotion to Step 6 as an aim for the not too distant future.

Looking at the clubs currently top of various Step 7 leagues anyone any idea on whether the following clubs, who on the face of it, look like they could hold their own at Step 6, although I have no idea of how their grounds shape up...

Pocklington Town are gradually developing their ground & have a long term aim of applying for promotion to step 6. This will not happen this season. Redcar Town aren’t mentioned on your list & their situation is similar to Pocklington Town.

Pocklington have floodlights, but no seating/stands. The pitch is in the middle of their other pitches. The changing rooms contain them for the other three pitches and no outside fencing. Unlikely bro apply for the 19/20 season

Battersea Ironsides - share ground with both cricket and rugby union. No seating, no floodlights, no hardstanding. No chance of Step 6 in any conceivable timeframe unless they go and groundshare. I visited there last season and Rugby appears to be the major sport for the club so for them to put funds into a groundshare for the round ball team seems unlikely.

Looking at the clubs currently top of various Step 7 leagues anyone any idea on whether the following clubs, who on the face of it, look like they could hold their own at Step 6, although I have no idea of how their grounds shape up...

Down my neck of the woods the Middlesex League currently has a top 3 of St. Panteleimon, Pitshanger Dynamo and PFC Victoria, all groundsharing at Step 5 and above clubs. In the Surrey Elite Westside are top who share at AFC Croydon Athletic at Step 5. So I'm guessing that all of these have promotion to Step 6 as an aim for the not too distant future.

PFC Vics are applying & they expect the other two to apply

St Panteleimon will be applying

Foley Meir from the Staffs Senior will be applying

Ilkley Town from the WYL, have been planning to apply for promotion. They are having an inspection in the next couple of weeks & will decide then if they can complete the works in time.